The Beatles

The Beatles formed in Liverpool in 1960 and within a decade reshaped the entire landscape of popular music. John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr evolved from a tight rock and roll cover band into the most adventurous studio act of their era, pioneering multitrack recording, tape loops, and orchestral arrangements in rock. Albums like Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band turned the LP into an art form. McCartney's melodic genius and Lennon's restless experimentation created a songwriting partnership without parallel, while Harrison's incorporation of Indian classical music expanded rock's sonic vocabulary. Their cultural impact extended far beyond music, influencing fashion, film, and social attitudes. They disbanded in 1970, but their catalog remains the benchmark against which all popular music is measured.